Brussels, Belgium
June 5, 2007
USDA/FAS GAIN report E47044
European Union 27 - Annual
agricultural biotechnology report 2007
HIGHLIGHTS
Since 1998, the EU has approved
nine biotech events in the face of considerable Member State
(MS) resistance. Over 35 events are in the pipeline still
waiting approval. The pace of approvals has slowed over the last
year. The debate on biotechnology in the EU is highly
politicized. Few of the contentious issues now confronting the
EU are related to human health and environmental safety. Over
the last 8 years the EU has implemented a comprehensive
regulatory system to guarantee that biotech products are fully
evaluated to ensure their safety. In September 2006, the WTO
upheld the central claims of the United States, Argentina and
Canada that the EU had imposed a de facto moratorium on the
approval of biotech products that is inconsistent with WTO
rules.
Full report:
http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200706/146291311.pdf
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